Optimizing malaria transmission-blocking vaccines with improved platforms

National Institute Of Allergy And Infectious Diseases

Investigators

Linked publications, trials & patents

Abstract

From our publications this year, we report the following advances in FY2023: Rausch KM, Barnafo EK, Lambert LE, Muratova O, Gorres JP, Anderson C, Narum DL, Wu Y, Morrison RD, Zaidi I, Duffy PE. Preclinical evaluations of Pfs25-EPA and Pfs230D1-EPA in AS01 for a Vaccine to Reduce Malaria Transmission. 2023. iScience. In press. When formulated on Alhydrogel, Pfs25-EPA has demonstrated safety and immunogenicity in a Phase 1 field trial, while Pfs230D1-EPA has shown superior activity to Pfs25-EPA in a Phase 1 US trial and 2 field trials. To enhance immunogenicity of these candidates, we conducted preclinical evaluations of Pfs25-EPA and Pfs230D1-EPA nanoparticles with GSK Adjuvant Systems, which have demonstrated successful potency in pre-erythrocytic vaccine trials and might offer a common platform to combine TBV with current licensed anti-disease vaccines. Formulations were stable after a series of assessments and induced superior antibody titers and functional activity in CD-1 mice, compared to Alhydrogel formulations of the same antigens.